I love getting up early.
In fact, the earlier the better.
I have a specific morning ritual that goes like this:
I wake up at 5:01 (I always set my alarm for the :01 after whatever time; I like the specific-ness of it).
I sit in meditation for 20-30 minutes.
I make and imbibe 2-3 drinks, including turmeric, coconut milk, honey, and black pepper…organic Greens superfood/probiotic alkalizing drink…and organic Reds beet probiotic drink, etc.
Then I drive to a restaurant by 6am, order coffee (maybe a full breakfast), and get writing.
I could do that every day, day in and day out, and be happy.
My wife lives for sleeping in until 9am.
I would rather die than sleep in until 9am.
When I get an early start, I feel alive and able to focus on projects like this that – let’s face it – aren’t exactly exactly essential to life.
Anyway, this morning, I’m drinking Trader Joe’s Light Roast coffee, and waiting for the sun to rise. While doing so, I’m listening to Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink (1929- ), the London Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F major.
I’ve encountered Maestro Haitink seven times previous to this morning, on…
Day 8. Rating:”Meh!”
Day 26. Rating:”Huzzah!”
Day 44. Rating:”Huzzah!”
Day 62. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 80. Rating: A very strong “Meh!”
Day 98. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 116. Rating: “Meh!”
Beethoven wrote his symphonies in four parts (except for the Sixth, which is in five). The time breakdown of this particular one (Symphony No. 8 in F major), from this particular conductor (Haitink, at age 77) and this particular orchestra (London Symphony Orchestra), at this particular time in history (April 25, 2006) on this particular record label (LSO Live) is as follows
I. Allegro vivace e con brio…………………………………..9:07
II. Allegretto scherzando…………………………………….3:54
III. Tempo di menuetto……………………………………….4:23
IV. Allegro vivace………………………………………………….7:24
Total running time: 24:08
My Rating:
Recording quality: 4 (SACD 5.1 multi-channel recording, mostly clear, but – to my ears and preferences – missing a bit of top end)
Overall musicianship: 4 (seems exuberant in some spots, perfunctory in others, but usually quite energetic)
CD liner notes: 5 (big booklet with lots of pertinent information and essays)
How does this make me feel: 3 (“Meh!”)
This one is on the border for me. But I have to go with my gut instinct: “Meh!”
I was drawn into Movement I, even though the tempo was just a smidgen quicker than previous performances. (This entire performance is only eight seconds longer than 24 minutes – the shortest I’ve yet heard.) I enjoyed the dynamics and the melody of this movement.
Movement II didn’t captivate me as much. I found myself losing interesting. The energy and excitement in the first movement was lacking in the second. Plus, the sound was a bit mushy, the dynamic range of the instruments not distinct from one another.
Movement III was another disappointment. For a minuet, this seemed to drag and lack the energy necessary to propel the movement forward.
Movement IV was adequate. Nothing special.
I can’t figure out why I don’t like this recording.
I loved Haitink conducting Anton Bruckner in my Bruckner projects a year or two ago. If my memory is correct, Haitink was one of my favorite conductors.
But his work with Beethoven isn’t as remarkable. At least, not to my ears.
Either the tempo is too quick, or the performance is too lethargic, or the sound isn’t distinctive.
I don’t know. I can’t figure it out.
But I’m not feeling the magic, the passion, the goosebumps when I listen to Maestro Haitink.
Your mileage may vary.